Maleic Anhydride Grafted Polypropylene (mPP)
“Maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted PP (mPP) was proved to be an effective functional molecule for the reactive compatibilization between polypropylene (PP) and polyamide. However, the miscibility between PP and mPP has not received much attention. Recently, Baer and coworkers, have shown that PP and mPP can either co-crystallize or phase separate, depending on the molecular weight and MAH content in mPP. In the case of high molecular weight and low MAH content, the pairs tend to co-crystallize, otherwise, phase separation will occur, which would greatly influence the mechanical properties of PP/mPP-based materials.” [Cho, Li and Choi, Polymer, 40, 1719-1799 (1999)]
Compatibilizers
Coupling Agents
Polymers /Resins
Polyolefins
Polypropylene (PP)
Recent Journal Articles
Comparative study of maleated polypropylene as a coupling agent for recycled low-density polyethylene/wood flour composites
(1731–1741) Journal of Applied Polymer Science 122 #3 (2011)
Rodríguez-Llamazare et al, Chile and Pennsylvania, studied the effects of the type of coupling agent and virgin polypropylene (PP) content on the mechanical properties and water absorption behavior of recycled low-density polyethylene/wood flour (WF) composites were investigated. The results indicate that the use of 100% recycled polymer led to inferior mechanical properties and to a greater degree of moisture absorption and swelling when compared to recycled polymer–virgin PP wood/plastic composites. This could have been related to the poor melt strength and inferior processability of the recycled polymer. The extent of improvement of the mechanical properties depended not only on the virgin PP content in the matrix but also on the presence of maleic anhydride (MA) modified PP as the coupling agent. Higher concentrations of MA group were beneficial; this improvement was attributed to increased chemical bonding (ester linkages) between hydroxyl moieties in WF and anhydride moieties in the coupling agent. (RDC 7/19/2011)